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PM Modi Visit to Greece

Relevance:

GS Paper- 2 Bilateral Relations.

Preliminary Pointers- Dokra Arts, Meghalayan shawls, Bidri works vase pair.

Why in the news?

The recent visit of Indian PM Narendra Modi to Greece,- is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years. During his visit, PM Modi offered Meghalaya shawls and Dokra artifacts to his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis. These shawls have a rich history and a royal lineage that dates back centuries.

Greece conferred the Grand Cross of the Order of Honor (Greece’s 2nd highest civilian honor) on Modi, making him the first foreign head of government to receive this honor.

India and Greece have decided to elevate bilateral ties to strategic partnership by expanding their cooperation in the fields of defense and security, infrastructure, agriculture, education, new and emerging technology, and skill development.

Key Points of the Visit

• Both countries have decided to strengthen their strategic partnership The two sides also agreed to have an institutional dialogue framework at the level of National Security Advisers besides vowing to strengthen defense-industrial cooperation.
• Both India and Greece support diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the Ukraine crisis, adding both sides have “excellent coordination” on geopolitical, international, and regional issues including that of the Indo-Pacific.
• They promised to double bilateral trade by 2030 and agreed to firm up a migration and mobility pact to facilitate skilled migration between the two countries.
• To promote tourism between the two countries Air connectivity is required to be enhanced which will not only boost GDP but also promote cultural ties and rejuvenate India-Greece relations since antiquity.
• Given the situation of the eastern Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific, there is a need to maintain maritime security and adherence to the convention on the law of the seas from both sides.
• The discussions covered digital payments, shipping, pharma, tourism, culture, education and people-to-people ties.
• Both countries have decided to deliberate on regional and multilateral issues, including the European Union, Indo-Pacific, and the Mediterranean, and called for respect of international law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

Points To Remember

About Grand Cross of the Order Honor

Grand Cross of the Order of Honour

The Order of Honor was established in 1975. The badge of the Grand Cross is a gold-plated cross with a red enameled medallion in the center. The medallion bears the image of the Greek goddess Athena, and the words “Only the Righteous Should be Honored”. The badge is worn around the neck on a blue and white ribbon.

About Meghalayan shawl

Meghalaya shawls were originally woven for the Khasi and Jaintia royalty, who considered them a symbol of their power and status. The shawls were also worn during ceremonial occasions and festivals, and their intricate designs and vibrant colors were a reflection of the royal family’s wealth and prestige.

About Dokra Artifacts

These artefacts are also known as Dhokra and are one of India’s prehistoric art forms, with the dancing girl found from Mohenjo-Daro and Harappan excavations being one of the earliest expressions of the artifact. The common themes of Dokra art revolve around figurines of Hindu gods, goddesses, and different animals. Artisans of Dokra art are mainly from central and eastern India.

About Bidri work Vase Pair

Bidri vase is a purely Indian innovation of a 500-year-old Persian exclusive to Karnataka’s Bidar. It is cast with an alloy of Zink, Copper, and other non-ferrous metals.